Visa Scam: Vadodara Woman Duped of ₹5.61 Lakh
A woman from Vadodara, Gujarat, has filed a police complaint after allegedly being defrauded of ₹5.61 lakh by a visa agent who failed to fulfill promises of securing foreign visas for her family.
Incident Overview
The complainant, Bhumika Raseshwar Purohit, a resident of Maa Smriti Society in Diwalipura, approached Landmark Consultant, located on Juna Padra Road, in August 2022. She and her husband sought assistance for studying abroad. They met Deepak Agarwal, who posed as a visa agent and assured them of obtaining a student visa for Bhumika and dependent visas for her husband and daughter. Agarwal charged ₹25,000 for processing, in addition to university and visa fees.
Between 2023 and 2024, the family made multiple payments totaling ₹5.36 lakh through cash and online transfers. Agarwal promised that the entire visa process would be completed by December 2022. However, as time passed, no visas were issued. Repeated demands for a refund were met with threats and intimidation.
In August 2024, when Bhumika once again asked for her money back, Agarwal allegedly told her to “do whatever she wanted,” refusing to return the funds. Frustrated and feeling cheated, Bhumika approached the JP Road Police, who have now registered a case against Deepak Agarwal and initiated legal action.
Broader Context
Visa fraud has been escalating in Gujarat, with a significant increase in reported cases between 2020–21 and 2022–23. Data from the Gujarat government reveals that 139 complaints of visa-related cheating were filed during this period, resulting in financial losses amounting to ₹74.15 lakh. Despite the arrest of 114 individuals, an equal number of accused remain at large, highlighting challenges in enforcement and recovery efforts.
This case underscores the importance of exercising caution when dealing with visa agents and consultants. Individuals are advised to verify the credentials of such agents, seek recommendations, and be wary of upfront payments without proper documentation.